Aphelandra plant named `White Wash&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Aphelandra  plant named ‘White Wash’ that is characterized by white/beige leaves with spots of green and undulating leaves with undulating margins and undulations parallel to the secondary veins.

Botanical classification: Aphelandra squarrosa.

Variety denomination: ‘White Wash’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAphelandra plant botanically known as Aphelandra squarrosa andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘White Wash’.

‘White Wash’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parent,an unnamed proprietary Aphelandra squarrosa cultivar and the male orpollen parent, Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Snow White’ (not patented). Thecrossing was conducted in 2011 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. The resultingseeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘White Wash’ wasselected by the inventor in 2012 in a controlled environment as a singleplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area ofSappemeer, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘White Wash’ first occurred byleaf cuttings in 2012 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. Since that time, undercareful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newAphelandra cultivar ‘White Wash’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘White Wash’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from otherexisting varieties of Aphelandra known by the inventor.

-   -   1. Aphelandra ‘White Wash’ exhibits white/beige leaves with        spots of green.    -   2. Aphelandra ‘White Wash’ exhibits undulating leaves with        undulating margins and undulations parallel to secondary veins.

The closest comparison cultivars are Aphelandra ‘Dania’ (not patented)and Aphelandra ‘Rembrandt’ (not patented). ‘White Wash’ isdistinguishable from ‘Dania’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘White Wash’ exhibits white/beige leaves with spots of green.        In comparison, the leaves of ‘Dania’ are green with narrow white        veins.    -   2. ‘White Wash’ exhibits undulating leaves with undulating        margins and undulations parallel to secondary veins. In        comparison, the leaves of ‘Dania’ are mostly smooth with very        slight puckering between the veins.

‘White Wash’ is distinguishable from ‘Rembrandt’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘White Wash’ exhibits white/beige leaves with spots of green.        In comparison, the leaves of ‘Rembrandt’ are green with wide        white veins.    -   2. ‘White Wash’ exhibits undulating leaves with undulating        margins and undulations parallel to secondary veins. In        comparison, the leaves of ‘Rembrandt’ are mostly smooth with        very slight puckering between the veins.

‘White Wash’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘White Wash’ exhibits white/beige leaves with spots of green.        In comparison, the leaves of the female parent plant are dark        green with white veins.    -   2. ‘White Wash’ exhibits undulating leaves with undulating        margins and undulations parallel to secondary veins. In        comparison, the leaves of the female parent plant are mostly        smooth with very slight puckering between the veins.

‘White Wash’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘White Wash’ exhibits white/beige leaves with spots of green.        In comparison, the leaves of the male parent plant are bright        white with spots of green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofAphelandra ‘White Wash’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 20week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Aphelandra cultivarnamed ‘White Wash’. Data was collected in Sappemeer, Netherlands from 20week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 14 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Summer and the temperature range was18-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 15-18 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘White Wash’ has not been tested under all possible conditionsand phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Aphelandra squarrosa ‘White Wash’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘White Wash’ resulted from the crossing of the female or    seed parent, an unnamed proprietary Aphelandra squarrosa cultivar    and the male or pollen parent, Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Snow White’.-   Plant type: Pot plant.-   Plant shape: Flattened globose.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Suitable container size: 10 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 16.2 cm.-   Plant width: 34.5 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 5° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 35° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 14 days at 21° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 21 days at 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: Leaf cuttings are placed directly    into growing container.-   Crop time: Approximately 20 weeks in Sappemeer, Netherlands.-   Root system: Dense and medium in thickness.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Pinching: Not required, but improves branching.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Main stem grows from base, no lateral            branches.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—Average 1.        -   Main stem dimensions.—9.5 cm. in length and 1.1 cm. in            width.        -   Internode length.—1.8 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem luster.—Glossy.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Average 0 degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color (young).—In between 178A and N77B.        -   Stem color (mature).—200B to 200C with tinges of N77B.        -   Internode color.—In between 200A and 200B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per main stem.—Average 12.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—undulating with undulating margins and            undulations parallel to secondary veins.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—17.1 cm. in length and 8.9 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf luster (upper surface).—Moderately glossy.        -   Leaf luster (lower surface).—Matte.        -   Leaf rugosity.—Non-rugose both surfaces.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire, undulating.        -   Leaf lobed.—Not lobed.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—174A, veined 157D.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—178B, veined 155D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—194B, with irregular            spots in between 139A and N186A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—189A, lighter toward main            vein 198B to 198C.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—Main vein 201C to 201D,            secondary veins 145C.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—Main vein 146B, tinged 183B to            183C towards base, secondary veins 148A.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—1.0 cm. in length, 0.6 cm. in width,            0.5 cm. in height.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Moderate.        -   Petiole color (upper surface).—N199A, tinged N77B.        -   Petiole color (lower surface).—152C to 152D, tinged 183B to            183C.-   Flower: ‘White Wash’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘White Wash’ has not produced fruit or seed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Aphelandra plant named ‘White Wash’ asdescribed and illustrated.